It appears that Little Italy's Loading Dock has permanently closed because of the pandemic which is too bad because I wanted to give them another shot. My past experiences were spotty due to the following reasons... * Upon arrival at my first visit, a staff member told me the kitchen had already closed and only drinks were being served. It was not even 9 pm yet so I found it odd that as a new business, they closed the food service so early. * The second occasion was on a mid-week evening around 8 pm. The entire place was dark and locked up despite having a listed closing time of 12:00 am. * On my third attempt, I was able to order a BBQ tri-tip sandwich with kettle chips. The meat was nicely grilled and flavorful, and the portion size was adequate for the price. The most recent visit on its own would have garnered 3.5 stars because of the food and service. Unfortunately, the previous failed attempts dropped the overall rating to a level between 2.5 and three stars. read more

Little Italy's Loading Dock - BBQ tri-tip sandwich with kettle chips - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Diego, California

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This review is strictly for the food and not the night life that they offer in the evenings. I stopped in for lunch, and was looking forward to having their BBQ bratwurst sandwich but the young lady informed me that she does not make that particular sandwich. I was huh? So, I settled for the Margherita Flatbread for $14. When the Margherita Flatbread arrived, the first thing I noticed that it was missing was the fresh basil. Apparently, they were out, so they simply excluded it from the flat bread. One could argue that the flat bread is no longer a Margherita. Anyways, the flat bread, although not prepared freshly on the premises, it was good, and had a nice crisp exterior and a soft warm center. The mozzarella cheese was just fine. However, the marinara sauce was ladled on to heavy. A good Margherita has a light dressing of sauce. This sauce was to thick and heavy and it overwhelmed. It was definitely a premade variety. In addition to the fresh basil, the flat bread needed some fresh garlic and a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. If you are going to call it a Margherita Flatbread, well let's make one! The young lady running the bar and the kitchen was nice. read more

Little Italy's Loading Dock - Margherita Flat Bread - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Diego, California

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Neat place! It has a casual industrial feel. And split level bar area with a wide open front that faces the street. They have plenty of TVs so it seems that this place would be good to watch a game or sporting event. With some brews on tapnand mixed drinks. You cant go wrong. The time that I stopped in they were having a paint night. I asled how often they did the paint night and I was told once a week. The staff is friendly and helpful. Worth coming back here again and grabbing food and drinks. read more

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The Bloody Mary was delicious and appropriate level of spice. It tasted similar to (if not exactly) like the spicy tomato juice. I enjoyed it! I also got the pepperoni and basil flat bread that I really enjoyed. The crust was a perfect balance... not too soft but not crunchy like many flatbreads. (Horrible description, I know, but it was really good!) Glad to see not too much has changed w/the new place. read more

Was moseying around the town of Little Italy and came across the smells of some good ol' smoked tri-tip. Met the owner Chris whose hospitality was superb. My friends and I were a bit indecisive and asked Chris what are the faves on the menu. He offered us a exclusive "never made" chef's special plate. He brought us some fresh warm potatoes chips with a sour cream dip. Then followed with the Chefs special: macaroni salad, bratwurst, tri-tip, pepperoni pizza, some pickles, BBQ sauce, sauerkraut, and mustard. That tri-tip was pretty dang good. Way to keep our taste buds satisfied! Great local spot and spot to enjoy some good company and watch sports. read more

Love love love this place. Watching sports, playing corn hole, drinking beers, large venue, good food.... what's there not you love. Great for HUGE parties. read more

I love this bar/event space! I accomplished the perfect surprise party here this past Friday, September 14th. I searched for an event space that accommodates music for 2 months within my budget. I came across Little Italys Loading Dock randomly and had to check it out! Filled out the online form and set up a time to meet with the owner. I get there and was immediately greeted by a friendly face. Chris, the owner of the joint, made me feel like a friend the instant I met him. He gave me a tour and was extremely accommodating to what I had planned. Planning a surprise party for a band isn't as easy as you think (guests, band members, catering, music set up, etc* ), but boy, Chris and his team of professionals made it seem like a walk in the park. Day of the event turned out so much better than I anticipated, everyone was extremely accommodating, respectful and made my party guests feel like it was their own neighborhood bar! 5/5 stars for Little Italy's Loading Dock. I'll be planning my next event there. read more

Dope spot to come chill and have a bite . Tri tip sandwich !!sooo good , must try if you come here . P.s. 90s rap music was playing, super dope lol read more

Little Italy's Loading Dock - BBQ tri-tip sandwich - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - San Diego, California

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This is a fun, brilliantly deceptive bar in Little Italy. It looks to be a small venue, but is actually very large; it has no parking but there's a ton of parking around the corner; they have a great drink selection and service is fun and pretty fast. Easy to skip, but hard to miss once you try it. read more

I wandered by here and spotted the Fresno State flag soaring above the front door, so I had to pop in and was glad I did. One of the owners went to FS, as did I. I liked the setup of the place a lot, as it has a second lofted level in the back of the main area where you can in off the street, and there's another bar there, too. Plenty of TVs on the walls with lot of sports on. I can imagine it will be a really good spot when there are many football games on. Since the tri-tip sandwich is their special here, I tried it and it was really good. I will try the brat next time, as that looked good, too. Beer selection was solid, I went with a local Mike Hess beer. Bathrooms were super clean. Tip: go here instead of wait 45 minutes for a chicken sandwich at Crack Shack. Don't get me wrong, the Crack Shack place is legit, too, but this place is right next door and is a way better option if you want a chill place and catch a game. See you after the NFL preseason is over and all the games will be on.... Go Dogs. read more

We held out annual holiday party here. They pulled out all the stops and we had an amazing night. Close to 100 people and the staff didn't miss a beat. Definitely coming back! read more

Best service in little Italy, be sure to ask for daddy Kev... very welcoming and one of a kind downtown SD offerings. Be sure to ask for the house distilled bourbon... old fashions highly recommended. read more

My friend recently had his birthday party here, it is my first time there since they have changed names. I like the venue, it is a good space for parties. It is split level with a bar on each level. It has a casual industrial feel. The upper level has more space, along with a photo booth, games such as corn hole and Jenga, and small stage area as well. Right now they are only licensed for Beer and Wine, so they don't have much hard alcohol. They do have some but there alcohol % is equal to beer or wine levels. The staff was friendly and nice. They do have a menu with bar food available. I didn't try the food, a couple of my friends did and they seemed to enjoy their sandwiches. read more

This is the best small restaurant bars I've been too in Little Italy. Awesome/amazing/fantastic smoked tri-tip sandwich. Chris is one of the owners I believe and he's a great guy. Very nice and personable. He gave us a tour of the place, gave us great service and really made it a great experience. Great beer selection and really awesome and unique environment. They have all their tables made from a fallen 800 yr old tree. The tree was struck by lightening and has the burn Marks from the strike. The have the loading dock bill of lading painted on the wall from the original loading dock. And they have awesome veteran built table legs and wall supports for their pints that you can buy to be apart of their membership. The cups are also made of stainless by vets and they'll etch your name into it. The place is set to a theme of the original air fields and the original loading dock that the building used to be and almost everything is made locally and or by vets including the smoker they use to smoke the tri-tip I think this place is very underrated and if you read this review give it a chance you will not regret it. read more

This review is long over due! and well deserved! A few months ago, Chris and his team helped me celebrate my birthday as my friends and I looked for a location for this cold rainy evening in San Diego (do they exist?! yes, they do! And its always January 5th!). Chris welcomed my friends and I with open arms! The venue is spacious but intimate! So many great tables and nooks for great conversation! Vibe is humble yet playful. Surrounded by tvs, great two bar setups, and KARAOKE! Chris even acted in as our personal MC for a few songs. Thanks! It was a great night and I look forward to many more amazing nights here! Located on the north side of Little Italy, this place is worth the short walk over! :) read more

I hosted my company's annual holiday party here in December. It was amazing! We did stationed appetizers-- all of which were delicious. They setup a projector so we could have a slideshow of photos throughout the year playing all night. We were able to choose the music. The photobooth was setup to have our company logo on every photo (sidenote: the links you get emailed with your photos, have all the photos from your event included). And the bartenders and other staff were so accomodating! They delievered on every promise! Employees that have been with us for years were saying it's one of the best events we've thrown yet! Will definitely come back! read more

Came for beer only. They took a long time at the bar. Lots of tv's for us to watch football. I think I would come here again and try the food. Nothing outstanding for me to go on and on about. I only ordered a Guinness and my husband seemed happy with his beer too. read more

The Loading Dock is one of downtown San Diego's hidden gems and is a must visit for just a drink and a quick bite or for an affordable event! We chose this place as our venue for my Dad's 50th birthday and it was amazing to say the least! The bar has an industrial vibe with a little bit of airport history and a great selection of drinks. The food was so delicious! SERIOUSLY! We had the beef tri tip, chicken, and pulled pork with salad and grilled vegetables for our event and got compliments throughout the whole night! We had access to all the games they had available- jenga, shuffle board, Bimini ring toss,& corn hole - we didn't end up using majority of them though. On top of the mellow atmosphere, the service we received that night and while planning this party was very good and easy going. Chris and his team worked hard for us that night making anything we wanted happen with the least amount of stress! That's a win for me! read more

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This is my first EVER Yelp review and it is LOOONG overdue. I planned my high school reunion here last year and to say my expectations were exceeded is an understatement. Chris and Ryan made the planning process a breeze. They were so accommodating to my every need and were able to keep everything within my budget. I could not be happier with the way the event turned out. They were able to provide food, drink tickets, AV, music, games, and a photo booth! I can't thank them enough for taking all of the stress off of the event. I am in the event industry and highly recommend this venue if you are looking for an affordable option that offers everything in house! Chris & Ryan- I am so sorry this review is so late, but I truly appreciate everything you did to make my event such a success! read more

Went here recently for an event! Venue was nice in an industrial area... good spot.. great event!! Amazing cause. Loud music loved it. And amazing food from moonshine flats read more

Cool little bar that's opened up to the street. Great place to watch a game, ton of big TVs. Cool atmosphere and friendly staff. They only have 1 brand of liquor, Soju. read more

I was excited to watch Fresno State beat Boise! I missed the last watch party invite sent by the alumni association. Unfortunately my experience was extremely disappointing. The reason; I asked to order food at the bar and was told by the tall ginger (male) bar tender that it would be a while because he had to set up for a party upstairs. He then takes a drink order from a group directly to my left and pours for them. I'm told he's doing the best that he can but I don't think that is the truth. Why not tell the other group the same thing? I tried to be understanding but ultimately I couldn't enjoy myself so my wife (also a Fresno State grad) and I left just as our Bulldogs scored the first TD of the game. I don't expect a response nor do I care for one. Just do me a favor; do the right thing. Go Bulldogs. Thanks Ballast Point for putting on the game for us. read more

SUCH a nice place!! Super friendly staff and great alcohol - they even make some in house!! clean restrooms, fun games and tv's for sport events :) read more

Hey, this place is the greatest. Good food good service good bar tender good wait staff This is were to go.. read more

Nice place, great spacious pub , excellent food Family owned and operated, found it by accident Even my little dog loved it. Everyone should try their tri tip sandwich , it's to die for. Definitely going back Great beer selection and they will be serving hard alcohol soon. Love it read more

This place caught our attention as we walked around little Italy, so we decided to check it out. Rodrigo was awesome, he kept our pints full and gave us great food recommendations. The food was great, my Cobb salad came with perfectly cooked steak...medium rare. If you're in the area...check it out! read more

Industrial atmosphere paired with fancy wood-carved tables you see in different joints in Little Italy. I had the beer bratwurst which you can get with sauerkraut, mustard, etc. and it was served on buttery, toasted bread with kettle chips. Excellent paired with beer! In addition to beers and wine they also serve a selection of soju cocktails. Great place to watch a sports event with friends. read more

Great service and amazing food and drinks in vibrant Little Italy! I would recommend everyone to give this place a visit while in San Diego!

I really love this place!!! The owner is a super sweet guy and easy on the eyes :) According to him, Kettner used to be a railroad track and The Loading Dock was actually a loading dock! Some friends of mine have a band Easy Wind that plays there every couple of months and they get a great crowd. We move the tables out of the way and dance to the awesome music. The menu is really diverse with something for everyone. I love the flatbread!! The planes fly so low you can see the pilot but just in case you miss one going over there are screens at the bar that show the planes in flight from a camera mounted on the roof. In the restrooms you can hear the control tower voices. The parking is not an issue with this place as there is a valet lot less than a block away. For $7 you can park there all day. I highly recommend a trip to The Loading Dock for a fresh new take on a happening joint in Little Italy. read more

The Loading Dock compliments Little Italy's heritage and enhances the neighborhood. The staff, menu, and drinks are great! My personal favorite is the Putner Blonde Ale on tap. Great atmosphere/entertainment and great place enjoy a frothy beverage. Definitely check out the Loading Dock! read more

Dope spot with chill environment! Ask for Kevin Say hi to him he makes everyone feel at home !

Chris and his team were superb in helping us out of a jam! We had another venue scheduled for our daughter's 21st Birthday party and everything was set. We had a live band scheduled to play along with a meal plan. Two weeks before her party, we received notice that the business had to unexpectedly close and we were without a venue. We found the Loading Dock and met with Chris, the owner, the next day. Chris was so helpful. He confirmed he could host the party, and the live band. Then he got on his laptop and set us up with a meal plan on the spot. Our event was awesome and the service from Chris and his team was outstanding. The food was excellent! We highly recommend the Loading Dock for your next party!!! Thank you, Chris!!! read more

Cool little spot. They have darts, corn hole, and oversized jenga. When I went it was pretty empty but the staff was cool and informative. I don't really go to bars often but this one was nice, new, and clean. They have a huge upper level perfect for concerts, parties, or a large get together. read more

Friday nights now feature salsa dancing on the upper level in the back behind the bar - where there is plenty of space to dance on a wooden floor. The lower front area with tables and large screen television monitors is not impacted by the music or movement up above where people are dancing. There are two unisex restrooms when needed. A possible challenge (for everything in Little Italy) depending upon when you arrive, is availability of (free street) parking - but I had no trouble finding an open spot nearby. read more

I never knew this place was here until Easy Wind (band) announced they were playing there. It was multi-level so you could be on the HUGE dance floor or watching music or down below where it would not be so loud. I found a great selection of cocktails and IPA's. Nice job. read more

Fun place to watch sports, grab a beer, play corn hole. The tri-tip is the best in San Diego! Highly recommend the sandwich with chips or a salad with it on there. The salads are massive :) read more

great new spot to catch a game. Plenty of TV's. For us non crafty types domestic bottles available.

Walked in here with an empty stomach and some time to kill. The bartender told me they had the best tri-tip in San Diego. He was right! Will definitely come back here. read more

Walked by this place every day on the way home from my office, the owner's father stopped me one day and invited me in to look around, which was very nice of him. It's an amazing historic spot. Talked with him and his son (the owner), and said yeah I'll have to stop by sometime. Asked if kids where allowed, as I have one, and was told yes, so long as your ordering food. I said ok great. A few weeks go by and today I said let's stop by to catch the 49er game and get some food. We walk in sit down and no one greets us for 15min. So my wife walks up to the bar and asks to order and they said you can't be in here with kids. Confusing as I was told by the owner and the father I could bring my child in. Oh well, I won't be back and by the looks of it they're losing money not making it. read more

We just had the best time here!!! It's family owned and super charming! The staff and owner are the nicest people and treated us with the utmost respect. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a chill atmosphere and great company. Definitely try the Putner Ale! read more